Multi-purpose wheeled luggage

ABSTRACT

A wheeled luggage includes a suitcase body with a container part which confines an interior space with a top opening. Atop cover is connected to a rear panel of the container part for covering and uncovering the top opening. A front panel of the container part is formed with a front opening, and includes a front cover for covering and uncovering the front opening. A bag is disposed removably in the interior space and has an upper edge portion which is foldable outwardly on an upper edge of the container part when the top cover uncovers the top opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 101200683, filed on Jan. 11, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a wheeled luggage, more particularly to a multi-purpose wheeled luggage.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 shows a conventional luggage which includes a suitcase body 1 confining a front compartment 201, and a front cover 202 for covering and uncovering the front compartment 201. A zipper unit 2 is provided for controlling access to the front compartment 201. The conventional luggage is used for receiving personal items during a trip, and is usually stored after use. The conventional luggage thus provides a very limited function and occupies a considerable amount of storage space when it is not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose wheeled luggage which can also be used at home such as to serve as a hamper.

Accordingly, a multi-purpose wheeled luggage of the present invention includes a suitcase body, a pull handle, a wheel unit, and a bag. The suitcase body includes a container part, a top cover, and a top zipper. The container part confines an interior space and includes a bottom panel, front and rear panels extending upwardly from the bottom panel and having lateral edges, and a pair of side panels extending upwardly from the bottom panel and interconnecting the lateral edges of the front and rear panels. The front and rear panels and the side panels have upper edges which cooperatively define a top opening of the interior space. The front panel is formed with a front opening in spatial communication with the interior space, and includes a front cover for covering and uncovering the front opening. The top cover is connected to the rear panel for covering and uncovering the top opening. The top zipper is provided on the top cover and the container part and is operable for controlling access to the interior space via the top opening. The top cover is movable between a closed position in which the top cover covers the top opening, and an open position, in which the top cover uncovers the top opening. The pull handle is mounted on the rear panel of the container part. The wheel unit is mounted on the bottom panel of the container part. The bag is disposed removably in the interior space and is made of a flexible material. The bag has an upper edge portion which defines an open end of the bag and which is foldable outwardly on the upper edges of the front and rear panels and the side panels when the top cover is at the open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional luggage;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a multi-purpose wheeled luggage according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment, taken along line V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment when used as a traveling baggage;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment when used as a hamper; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment when used as a travelling baggage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of a multi-purpose wheeled luggage according to the present invention includes a suitcase body 10, a pull handle 20 mounted on the suitcase body 10, a wheel unit 30, a liner 40, and a bag 50.

The suitcase body 10 includes a container part 11 and a top cover 12 connected to the container part 11.

The container part 11 confines an interior space 13, and includes a bottom panel 112, front and rear panels 114, 115 extending upwardly from the bottom panel 112, and a pair of side panels 113 extending upwardly from the bottom panel 112 and interconnecting lateral edges of the front and rear panels 114, 115. The front and rear panels 114, 115 and the side panels 113 have upper edges which cooperatively define a top opening 131 of the interior space 13.

Referring further to FIG. 6, the front panel 114 is formed with a front opening 116, and has a front cover 117 for covering and uncovering the front opening 116. The front panel 114 further has a bridging upper section 118 extending between the front opening 116 and the top opening 131. A front zipper 14 is provided on the front panel 114 at a periphery of the front opening 116 and a periphery of the front cover 117 for controlling access to the interior space 13 via the front opening 116.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the suitcase body 10 further includes a U-shaped reinforcing member 16 secured to the bottom panel 112 and the side panels 113, and a U-shaped mounting frame 17 secured to the side panels 113 and the rear panel 115.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3, the top cover 12 is hinged to the upper edge of the rear panel 115 and is movable turnably between a closed position, in which the top cover 12 covers the top opening 131, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, and an open position, in which the top cover 12 uncovers the top opening 131, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. A top zipper 15 is provided on the periphery of the top opening 131 of the interior space 13 of the container part 11 and the periphery of the top cover 12 for controlling access to the interior space 13 via the top opening 131. The top cover 12 is formed with a handle opening 121 and a handle cap 122 for covering the handle opening 121. A handle zipper 18 is provided on the top cover 12 to control access through the handle opening 121.

The pull handle 20 is mounted on the rear panel 115. In the present embodiment, the pull handle 20 is disposed at an inner side of the rear panel 115 and is mounted to the mounting frame 17. The pull handle 20 is extendible through the handle opening 121 in the top cover 12 when it is extended and is retractable within the interior space 13 when it is retracted.

The wheel unit 30 is mounted on the bottom panel 112 of the container part 11.

The liner 40 is formed of a soft fabric and is attached to an inner surface of the suitcase body 10 adjacent to the interior space 13 for concealing the reinforcing member 16, the mounting frame 17 and the pull handle 20.

The bag 50 is made of a flexible material, such as a soft fabric, with only one open end 521. The bag 50 is disposed removably in the interior space 13, and has an upper edge portion 51 which is foldable outwardly on the upper edges of the front and rear panels 114, 115 and the side panels 113 so as to form a fold section 53 which can be retained on the upper end 111 of the container part 11 when the top cover 12 is at the open position. The bag 50 is further formed with a slot 54 to permit extension of the pull handle 20 therethrough.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 8, the wheeled luggage of the preferred embodiment can be used in a conventional manner for receiving and carrying personal items during a trip. The front zipper 14 is operated to permit access to the interior space 13 via the front opening 116. To move the luggage, the handle zipper 18 on the top cover 12 is opened to allow extension of the pull handle 20 outwardly of the interior space 13 of the container part 11, thereby permitting pulling movement of the wheeled luggage by means of the wheel unit 30.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, the wheeled luggage of the preferred embodiment can also be used in another manner. The top zipper 15 is opened and the top cover 12 is turned rearwardly toward a rear side of the rear panel 115, or is received inside the interior space 13 (as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7) , leaving the top opening 131 uncovered by the top cover 12. The bag 50 is then disposed in the interior space 13 with its upper edge portion 51 turned outwardly and folded on the upper edges of the front, rear and side panels 114, 115, 113 of the container part 11. The bag 50 can thus be used as a container for receiving various objects such as toys, or as a hamper for receiving laundry items. With the laundry items contained in the bag 50, the bag 50 can be removed from the suitcase body 10 and carried directly to a laundry area. Optionally, the upper edge portion 51 of the bag 50 is provided with a string (not shown) for tying the open end 521 to facilitate carrying of the bag 50.

As shown in phantom lines in FIG. 7, when the top cover 12 is turned rearwardly to the open position, the pull handle 20 can be pulled out through the slot 54 to allow pulling movement of the wheeled luggage. At this time, the wheeled luggage may also serve as a shopping cart.

In the present embodiment, the pull handle 20 is mounted on an inner side of the rear panel 115. In other embodiments, the pull handle 20 may be mounted on an outer side, i.e., the rear side, of the rear panel 115. In this case, the slot 54 in the bag 50 and the handle opening 121 in the top cover 12 are unnecessary.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A wheeled luggage, comprising: a suitcase body including a container part which confines an interior space and which includes a bottom panel, front and rear panels extending upwardly from said bottom panel and having lateral edges, and a pair of side panels extending upwardly from said bottom panel and interconnecting said lateral edges of said front and rear panels, said front and rear panels and said side panels having upper edges which cooperatively define a top opening of said interior space, said front panel being formed with a front opening in spatial communication with said interior space, said front panel including a front cover for covering and uncovering said front opening, a top cover connected to said rear panel for covering and uncovering said top opening, and a top zipper provided on said top cover and said container part and operable for controlling access to said interior space via said top opening, said top cover being movable between a closed position in which said top cover covers said top opening, and an open position, in which said top cover uncovers said top opening; a pull handle mounted on said rear panel of said container part; a wheel unit mounted on said bottom panel of said container part; and a bag disposed removably in said interior space, said bag being made of a flexible material and having an upper edge portion which defines an open end of said bag, said upper edge portion being foldable outwardly on said upper edges of said front and rear panels and said side panels when said top cover is at the open position.
 2. The wheeled luggage as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pull handle is disposed at an inner side of said rear panel and is retractable within said interior space, said top cover being formed with a handle opening to permit extension of said pull handle out of said interior space, said top cover further including a handle cap for covering said handle opening.
 3. The wheeled luggage as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bag is formed with a slot for extension of said pull handle therethrough.
 4. The wheeled luggage as claimed in claim 1, wherein said suitcase body further includes a U-shaped reinforcing member secured to said bottom panel and said side panels, and a U-shaped mounting frame secured to said side panels and said rear panel, said pull handle being mounted to said mounting frame.
 5. The wheeled luggage as claimed in claim 4, wherein said suitcase body further includes a liner disposed within said interior space for concealing said reinforcing member, said mounting frame and said pull handle.
 6. The wheeled luggage as claimed in claim 1, wherein said suitcase body further includes a front zipper provided on said front panel and operable for controlling access to said interior space via said front opening.
 7. The wheeled luggage as claimed in claim 6, wherein said front panel further has a bridging upper section extending between said front opening and said top opening. 